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7 things you'll want to check out at the National Blueberry Festival in South Haven

Blueberrypiecontest14

Miss South Haven First Runner-Up Hannah Lyon holds back Erin Doherty's hair, of Park Ridge, Ill.,, during the pie-eating contest at the 50th annual National Blueberry Festival in South Haven last year.
(Steph Anderson Chambers/MLive.co)

The four-day event will offer an array of blueberry-themed events as well as several "satellite" events, including volleyball and basketball tournaments. Most of the festival events are free, although those requiring registration, including many of the satellite events, come with a charge, according to Susan Diepen, the assistant director of the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the event.

"It's definitely a family-friendly event. It's conducive to couples or couples with children -- younger children or older children. It's always popular because you can do as much of the festival stuff as you want or go to the beach or go shopping downtown," she said.

With so much to take in, Diepen offered a few tips on some of the most sought-after events at the Blueberry Festival.

Pie-eating contest

One of the biggest draws of the festival is the children's pie-eating contest that draws almost 300 contestants between the ages of 5 and 12. There is a $1 charge to compete in the contest to be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Riverfront Park. Festival organizers have also reconfigured the event to make it easier for parents to capture photos of the mess, er, competition.

Parade

The festival parade through downtown South Haven gives local business and organizations a chance to show off their personality. It will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Free entertainment

The Blueberry Festival will spotlight several local and regional bands during each day of the event. There's everything from country to beach rock, as well as Bob Seger and Pat Benatar tribute bands. For more on the tunes, go here for the full schedule.

Beach Party

Enjoy live music and blueberries with Reddi-wip from 1:30-7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10 for the festival's free beach party at the Riverfront Main Stage.

Blueberry-centric farmers market

Obviously the agricultural tourism of the region will be key to the festival. As such, the festival will highlight the region's diversity of fruit and vegetables and what it means to the community with a series blueberry-centric farmers markets in the Huron Street Pavilion. Dubbed Blueberry Central, these events will show off fresh blueberries, blueberry plants, pies and more. Blueberry Central will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Craft Fair

Big crowds are typical at the Blueberry Festival's Craft Fair where 150 vendors will display art, jewelry, food and more from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9.

5K/10K

The popular 5K/10K Walk/Run will attract several hundred participants for the event on Saturday morning. Registration will start at 7 a.m., with the run beginning at 7:45 a.m. and the walk at 8 a.m.